Surface condenser



June 18, 1929. F RACE 1,717,770

SURFACE CONDENSER Filed March 1928 JOHN EGRACE. 14 l VENTOR Patented June 18, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. GRACE, OF ARLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WORTHINGTON PUMP AND MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF VIR- GINIA.

SURFACE CONDENSER.

Application filed March 8, 1928. Serial No. 260,017.

This invention relates to steam condensers of the surface type and an ob ect of the invention is to provide means for maintaining a proper distribution of cooling water in surface Condensers of relatively large sizes.

Another object of the invention is to provide means as above specified, preferably in the form of a dam in the outlet water box of the condenser, which dam extends in the water box sufficient distance to maintain water level in the condenser always at such level to ensure proper circulation of water through the topmost tubes of the condenser under all conditions of operation, and also to provide a structure of this type which is relatively simple in construction, .may be manufactured at a low cost and will reduce to a very material extent cost of assembling of the device as well as the initial cost of manufacture.

\Vith these objects in view, the invention consists in various features of construction and combination of parts, which will be first described in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing a condenser of the preferred form embodying the invention, and the features forming the invention will be specifically pointed out in the claims.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a condenser partly in section illustrating the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of a condenser partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates a condenser of any approved type, having a plurality ofwater circulating tubes 2 therein, through which water is circulated by circulating pump (not shown), such as is usual in condenser installations. The condenser 1 comprises the usual inlet and outlet water boxes 3 and 4 respectively. The outlet water box 4 has its outlet connection 5 at its lowermost portion, which is desirable in some condenser installations, however, under certain conditions the quantity of water circulated through the condenser is less than the maximum, and at such times under normal approved constructions of condensers, the flow of water through the tubes is unequal, more water passing through the lowermost tubes in the condenser, than those at the top or in the upper part of the condenser, owing to the fact that the water follows the lines of least resistance. To overcome such unequal distribution of the water, a dam 6 is provided which extends upwardly from the lower part of the outlet water box 4 therein to suflicient height to maintain a water level in the outlet water box of sufiicient height to offer uniform resistance, at the outlet end, to all of the tubes 2 in the condenser, thereby ensuring the equal distribution of the circulating or cooling water through the tubes.

In the form of condenser illustrated in the drawings, the head 7 of the outlet water box 4 of the condenser is formed of two sections 8 and 9, each ofwhich has a dam forming shell 10 cast thereon and projecting into the water box 4 and inwardly from the portion .of the water box 4 adjacent to the water outlet 5 a suflicient distance to maintain a water level in the outlet box 4 suflicient to offer substantially uniform resistance at the outlets of all of the tubes 2 so as to ensure proper circulation of water through all of the tubes. The dam forming shells 10 have their inner sides at their lower ends tapering away from the head 7 as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings so as to provide unobstructed passage of the water into the outlet 5 and they have gaps or openings 11 at their lower ends to permit drainage into the outlet 5 and prevent accumulation of sediment in the bottom of the water box. The inner sides 12 of the dam forming shells 10 are provided with openings 13 which align with the manholes 14 in the head 7 so as to permit access to the tubes 2 for cleaning purposes. The outer edges of the shells 1O taper outwardly at their upper ends to provide enlarged mouths or entrances to the spaces enclosed within the shells 10 for facilitating the circulation of the water through the water box 4.

By casting the dam forming shells 10 on the sections of the head 7 a material reduction in the cost of manufacture of the condenser is provided over the constructions wherein the dam is a separate and independent structure and must be attached in place in the water box since, with the present construction, when the head 7 is placed in proper position and attached to the water box, the dam will be properly positioned by the same operation.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction or arrangement of parts shown but that these may be modified widely within the invention defined by the claims.

WVhat is claimed is:

1. In a condenser having water circulating tubes and a water outlet box, a dam in said outlet box extending inwardly into the box from its lowermost portion a predetermined distance for maintaining the water level in the water box suificient to cause uni-form distribution of water through the tubes, said dam provided with a drainage opening at its lowermost portion.

2. In a condenser having water circulating tubes and a water outlet box, a dam in said outlet box extending inwardly into the box from its lowermost portion a predetermined distance for maintaining the water level in the water box sufficient to cause uniform distribution of water through the tubes, a head for said water box, said dam being cast i ntegrally with said head, said dam being provided with a drainage opening at its lowermost portion. V

8. In a condenser having water circulating tubes and a water outlet box, a dam in said outlet box extending inwardly into the box from a point adjacent to the water outlet of the box a predetermined distance for main taming a predetermined water level in the outlet water box to maintain the water level therein at a predetermined height, said head and dam provided with aligning openings to permit access to the tubes for cleaning.

5. In a condenser, a shell, tubes carried thereby, an outlet water box attached to the shell, a head for the outer end of said water box and formed of a plurality of sections,

and dam forming shells formed upon said head sections for providing a dam in said.

outlet water box to maintain the water level therein at a predetermined height, said dam being provided with drainage openings at its lowermost portion.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,

JOHN F. GRACE.

wvater box, said dambeing shaped to provide an enlarged mouth to the space 1n the Water 

